One of MMA’s most polarizing figures is a free man as of today (August 1, 2016) and ready to make his return to the Octagon. Former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz has been out of action since suffering a defeat that was later changed to a no-contest against all-time great Anderson “The Spider” Silva in January […]
One of MMA’s most polarizing figures is a free man as of today (August 1, 2016) and ready to make his return to the Octagon. Former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz has been out of action since suffering a defeat that was later changed to a no-contest against all-time great Anderson “The Spider” Silva in January 2015. After the bout it was revealed that “The Stockton Bad Boy” had once again tested positive for Marijuana, leading the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to hand him a ludicrous five year suspension.
It’s safe to say that MMA world went crazy backing Diaz, and his suspension was later changed to an 18-month ban dating back to January 2015. Since Diaz has last competed, the sport and the UFC has changed quite a bit, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Diaz’s star power, and it could even be argued that his popularity has since increased. In fact, he recently told TMZ Sports that he’s ‘on top’ and he’d like to fight the best guy in his highly-anticipated return.
One fight that could be potentially looming on the horizon is a welterweight title fight with newly-minted champ Tyron Woodley, who knocked out Robbie Lawler this past weekend (July 30, 2016) to steal the gold. After his win, Woodley called out Diaz for a battle in just a few weeks at August 20’s UFC 202, an event headlined by Nick’s brother Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. Regarding that scenario, Diaz said that he’ll need an offer ‘he can’t refuse’, adding that he doesn’t owe anything to anyone.
Top-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson may be known as one of the nicest fighters in MMA, but after newly crowned welterweight champion Tyron Woodley snubbed him for a title shot in the aftermath of knockout win over Robbie Lawler in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 201, he may be starting to believe a different […]
Top-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson may be known as one of the nicest fighters in MMA, but after newly crowned welterweight champion Tyron Woodley snubbed him for a title shot in the aftermath of knockout win over Robbie Lawler in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 201, he may be starting to believe a different approach is necessary.
When questioned by Thompson on the UFC 201 post-fight show, Woodley eschewed with ‘Wonderboy’ in favor of a ‘big money fight’ with the returning Nick Diaz or all-time great former champ Georges St-Pierre, who quickly accepted the fight.
On a seven-fight win streak, he clear top contender spoke up for his case during an appearance on today’s edition of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, describing his shock at Woodley’s insistence to call his own shots minutes after winning the belt:
“In my head I was like, really, you’re kidding me, right, that he wouldn’t give me this shot? Yeah, he went out there, he defeated Robbie Lawler, but you know, he took this fight, and a lot of people didn’t think he deserved it in the first place, but just seconds after winning that title, already choosing his fights? I mean, come on. Who gets that? Who really gets to do that. I mean, you’re starting to see that a lot more. It’s almost like, do the rankings really count? Do they really matter?”
Thompson thinks Woodley should at least defend his title before calling out big names:
“And I was kind of upset for him to say that just because, he knows I’m the No. 1 guy. He knows I’ve been working really hard. You know, I’m on a seven-fight winning streak. But to pick some, I think you have to defend the title at least once before you can start picking your shot.”
Questioned about his belief if Woodley was ducking him, Thompson responded that he would be fighting “The Chosen One” at Madison Square Garden regardless of what the champ wants:
“I don’t know. I don’t think he’s scared of me, but it almost seems like he just doesn’t want to fight me, he just doesn’t want to step in the ring. I don’t know if he thinks it’s a bad match-up, but no matter what, I’m fighting this guy, I’m fighting Tyron. I’m fighting Tyron Woodley, and it’s gonna be at Madison Square Garden; no ifs, ands, or buts, come on guys, come on UFC, and come on Tyron. You gotta give it to me, man.”
If he were not to get the shot, however, ‘Wonderboy’ expressed his trepidation at not getting the next title fight, which is why the normally reserved phenom suddenly became so vocal today:
“No. If they don’t give this to me, then something is really wrong. It is disappointing to hear that, and it does worry me a little bit, but in my head, I’m getting the shot. I don’t care. I gotta put my foot down, man, I gotta tell everybody how I’m feeling, and as of right now, I’m very disappointed that he wouldn’t take it.”
Thompson was willing to give Woodley credit for the huge shot he landed on Lawler, but he also believes that wasn’t the surging version of Lawler we’d grown accustomed to seeing over the past three years:
“I mean, yes he did land that big one punch, but you know, I don’t know man, it wasn’t enough for me. He did land that one punch, but we all know that wasn’t the same Robbie. Just going out there, looking at the fight, that was the Robbie we all expected, and I think he knows that.”
He named several reasons why we may not have seen the true “Ruthless,” but at the end of the day, Thompson insists something was just off with the former champ, and he may not have been motivated:
“There could be a lot of different reasons why we didn’t see the same Robbie Lawler, but it wasn’t him.”
After repeatedly predicting Lawler would win and then move on to throw down in an exciting war with ‘Wonderboy,’ Thompson admitted he was disappointed at not being the one to dethrone “Ruthless.” He gave some more thinly veiled credit before the new champ before telling him to stop calling out aging legends, who, despite being some of the most recognizable names in MMA, hadn’t won a fight in nearly eight years combined:
“Yeah, I was. I was disappointed because he was the guy I wanted to beat. I wanted to be the guy to take him out. But hat’s off to Tyron, he beat me to it. But he is the champ and I am the No. 1 contender, stop calling people out who haven’t fought in a year or three years. Fight the guy who’s ready, man, fight the guy’s who earned it this year, who’s beat the No. 1, beat the No. 2, and take on me, man. That’s what I got to say to him. I just think it’s kinda crap that he won’t take it.”
Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is already lining himself up with some very interesting fights. After dispatching Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201, ‘The Chosen One’ is now red-hot property in the UFC market. Challenges have come in left and right, but perhaps the most intriguing potential fights have come […]
Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is already lining himself up with some very interesting fights. After dispatching Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201, ‘The Chosen One’ is now red-hot property in the UFC market. Challenges have come in left and right, but perhaps the most intriguing potential fights have come from Woodley’s post-fight interview with Stephen Thompson.
‘Wonderboy’ issued a challenge to the new 170-pound boss just moments after his devastating knockout against Lawler, but it wasn’t a bout with Thompson that Woodley would acknowledge. Calling out former champion Georges St-Pierre and also Nick Diaz, ‘The Chosen One’ admitted he’s looking for the ‘money fights’ now. In quite the common theme, Woodley joins champions such as Conor McGregor, Dominick Cruz and Michael Bisping who have all reached outside their divisional rankings recently in search of big fights.
In terms of Woodley wanting to fight ‘GSP,’ there are a lot of questions that arise. Will St-Pierre even return and, if so, should he receive an immediate title shot? His last fight, a narrow win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, was now three years ago. The time has passed quickly, and UFC president Dana White recently stated in an interview that ‘Rush’ would ‘never fight again.’
Of course the word of White is by no means gospel, and St-Pierre has pondered the idea of a comeback pretty much since the moment he vacated the belt. With USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) now running the show, perhaps ‘GSP’ will be happy to compete again.
Responding to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, St-Pierre confirmed today that he wants to fight Woodley. Although no solid date has ever been nailed down for ‘Rush’ to return, the clock is ultimately ticking for the ex-poster boy of the UFC. Many consider the Canadian star as the greatest welterweight to ever live, and he is constantly in the top end of the pound-for-pound argument.
Would you be keen to see St-Pierre come back to the UFC, or has the game passed him by?
While Michael Bisping’s next dance partner is all set, apparently another UFC title-holder has former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre interested in making an Octagon comeback.
Ariel Helwani reported at MMAFighting.com on Monday morning that …
While Michael Bisping’s next dance partner is all set, apparently another UFC title-holder has former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre interested in making an Octagon comeback.
Ariel Helwani reported at MMAFighting.com on Monday morning that former longtime 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre is interested in fighting new 170-pound champion, Tyron Woodley.
Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201 on Saturday night to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion. After the show, Woodley claimed that he has his sights set on either Nick Diaz or Georges St-Pierre as the guy he would like to defend the title against first.
St-Pierre apparently feels the same.
Helwani texted GSP to ask him if he’s interested in fighting “The Chosen One” in his first 170-pound title defense, to which “Rush” simply replied, “Yes.”
St-Pierre last fought inside the Octagon at UFC 167 in November of 2013, edging out Johny Hendricks via close decision victory to retain his UFC Welterweight crown and retire as champion.
As far as Tyron Woodley is concerned, Stephen Thompson can wait.
While “Wonderboy” came right out and asked for his shot at the new UFC welterweight champion during an interview between the two on the UFC 201 post-fight show, Woodley has someone else in mind for his next fight.
Nick Diaz.
Diaz is set to come off suspension in the coming days and Woodley believes that is the “money” fight that will help him set his family up for the future. “The Chosen One” captured the belt with a first round finish of Robbie Lawler Saturday night.
“You said that you wanted to fight Lawler. Now you get the opportunity,” Woodley said. “Now Nick Diaz is coming off suspension in two days. If he wants to fight on the same card with his brother in August, he can against me. That’s the money fight. Let’s go get it. I’m ready.”
Woodley joins a panel on FOX Sports coverage of the UFC that includes champions Daniel Cormier, Dominick Cruz and Michael Bisping. Miesha Tate, another regular, is a former champion, as well.
“I couldn’t let us down,” Woodley joked. “That was some pressure. I was thinking, I can’t be the only one who works at FOX and comes back without a belt.”
As far as Tyron Woodley is concerned, Stephen Thompson can wait.
While “Wonderboy” came right out and asked for his shot at the new UFC welterweight champion during an interview between the two on the UFC 201 post-fight show, Woodley has someone else in mind for his next fight.
Nick Diaz.
Diaz is set to come off suspension in the coming days and Woodley believes that is the “money” fight that will help him set his family up for the future. “The Chosen One” captured the belt with a first round finish of Robbie Lawler Saturday night.
“You said that you wanted to fight Lawler. Now you get the opportunity,” Woodley said. “Now Nick Diaz is coming off suspension in two days. If he wants to fight on the same card with his brother in August, he can against me. That’s the money fight. Let’s go get it. I’m ready.”
Woodley joins a panel on FOX Sports coverage of the UFC that includes champions Daniel Cormier, Dominick Cruz and Michael Bisping. Miesha Tate, another regular, is a former champion, as well.
“I couldn’t let us down,” Woodley joked. “That was some pressure. I was thinking, I can’t be the only one who works at FOX and comes back without a belt.”
After an improbable three-year run to the UFC welterweight title, longtime veteran Robbie Lawler’s reign at the top came to an end with just one punch when Tyron Woodley floored him to steal the belt in the main event of last night’s (Sat., July 30, 2016) UFC 201 from Philips Arena in Atlanta. Many were quick […]
After an improbable three-year run to the UFC welterweight title, longtime veteran Robbie Lawler’s reign at the top came to an end with just one punch when Tyron Woodley floored him to steal the belt in the main event of last night’s (Sat., July 30, 2016) UFC 201 from Philips Arena in Atlanta.
Many were quick to point the finger at Lawler’s long list of recent wars against top opposition like Carlos Condit and Rory MacDonald as a sign that his chin was crumbling before Woodley put the finishing touches on it, but speaking at the post-fight press conference (courtesy of MMA Junkie), “Ruthless” didn’t believe that is the case:
The fan favorite slugger wouldn’t look that deep into performance, instead focusing on the simple fact that you just get caught at the highest levels of MMA:
“It’s alright, he caught me with the ol’ T-Wood bomb. I was just sitting back a little too much, and he took advantage of it. It was his night.”
As for what he plans to do next, Lawler said he would relax with his family before having the UFC decide what direction his career would head:
“They’ll kinda decide that, but I’m going to sit back, spend some time with my family, and figure out what I’m doing next. But I’m sure Dana will decide on what’s next.”
Many, including No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson had also criticized Lawler for perhaps being too stationary, but Lawler said he made one small mistake and Woodley capitalized on it to the fullest:
“I don’t know if I sat in front of him too much. But I think maybe right at the end, he feinted and I reached with my hands, and he threw a punch over top and took advantage of an opportunity and he did a great job.”
Building on that stance, Lawler wouldn’t make any excuses for his loss. He said he felt great before the fight and again, just got rocked by one huge punch:
“No, I think it’s just a guy who took advantage of a big punch and rocked me and jumped on and finished the job. I’m not going to speculate. I felt great going into the fight, so no excuses.”
There was also the teammate dynamic that was heavily hyped up by the UFC leading up to the bout, but Lawler said that didn’t come into play when asked. “Ruthless” stood fast in his statement that he would have starched Woodley if so presented with the chance:
“No not at all, I’m a mean individual and this is what I dod for a living so I woulda had no problem doing the same to him.”
And even though he said he would let the UFC decide where his career went next, Lawler seemed to change his tune a bit when probed again. With two straight title defense and a legitimate case for being involved in the “Fight of the Year” in the past three years, “Ruthless” finally revealed that he believes he deserves a rematch for the championship:
“Obviously, I think that if I went back in there, I would get a win,” he said. “Deserve and getting are two different things, but yeah, I feel I deserve something. But we’ll see if I get it.”
Based on his recent body of work, it’s hard to argue with the “Ruthless” one there. But with Thompson waiting anxiously for a much-deserved shot and Woodley calling out either the returning Nick Diaz or the rumored-to-be-returning Georges St. Pierre for a big money fight, there could be quite the queue of contenders built up when Lawler returns to the octagon, making another title shot a far-off possibility right now.
No matter what, Lawler still sits high upon the rankings of one of the most talented divisions in all of MMA. If Woodley does fight Thompson next, Lawler could certainly square off with Diaz, as the two have a built-in rematch angle from their historic bout in 2004 where Diaz knocked Lawler out.
If Woodley faces Diaz (or even GSP), Lawler could face Thompson in the bout “Wonderboy” was hoping would be contested for the title after last night.
And in that fight, we could truly find out if there’s any merits to those claiming Lawler’s iron chin is finally starting to fade.
